STO program offers opportunities

To the editor:

On behalf of the School Tuition Organizations (STOs) and the families they support, I'd like to provide additional facts related to a Gazette article on the STO tax credit program ('Little oversight for private credits,” Aug. 16).

The STO program takes nothing from Iowa's public school system funding. All STO funds are donated privately by individuals and a few corporations, simply giving low and lower-middle class families the opportunity to choose a private school if they feel it is a better fit for their children - the same opportunity enjoyed by wealthier Iowans.

Since the inception of the STO program in 2006, K-12 public school funding has increased from $1.96 billion to an estimated $2.8 billion, while the STO program only grew from $2.5 million to $12 million in tax credits statewide. STOs represent accredited non-public schools that meet the accreditation requirements of the state of Iowa. STOs observe all state laws and rules in administering this program, including the required periodic financial reviews, and they are closely monitored by the Iowa Department of Revenue. STOs diligently ensure that tuition grant recipients have family incomes below the threshold of 300 percent poverty level and require income verification documentation such as tax returns and wage stubs in the application process. Bottom line - the STO tax credit program expands educational opportunities in the state.

Iowa has a rich history of supporting many forms of education - both public and private. We hope to see that tradition continue in the future.

Trish Wilger

Executive Director, Iowa Alliance for Choice in Education

Des Moines